PM warns against those engaged in killing, arson

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday issued a fresh warning that stern actions will be taken against those engaged in killing people and torching vehicles across the country.

"We won’t tolerate any militant and terrorist acts…I’ve not yet found any issue behind their (BNP-Jamaat’s) ongoing agitation programs," she said.

The Prime Minister said this while formally inaugurating the construction work on a multi-storey building of the National Security Intelligence in the city's Segun Bagicha area through unveiling the plaque of its foundation stone.

Referring to the death of an unborn baby as its mother was critically injured in a petrol bomb attack, Hasina said she got deeply hurt after she came to know about this tragic incident.

"What was the fault of that mother and her unborn baby? How could the delivery of that death baby be done where most of the body of that mother suffered burn injuries? The hands of the culprits who prepare the petrol bombs and those charged the bombs should be burned to make them feel the pain of burning. We have to stop these evil activities with an iron hand," she said.

Tougher steps would be taken to stop terrorism, militancy and unsocial activities in the country, the Prime Minister said adding that one country must not run this way.

"Come down to the field if you want to wage a movement and let people be with you," she asked the BNP-Jamaat leaders.

Saying that the BNP leader never wanted the welfare of the country and its people, Hasina said the country was advancing well ahead of Pakistan in all sectors after the AL-led alliance government assumed power. "Seeing this, the BNP chief has gone mad as her beloved Pakistan is lagging behind Bangladesh."

The Prime Minister bemoaned that it is very much unfortunate when the country is moving ahead, the BNP and Jamaat have indulged in conspiracies in the name of a movement.

She said that BNP-Jamaat alliance have no issue in their hand for waging any anti-government movement. "I just cannot understand what is their issue, if we failed to run the country properly after 2014 election, if the country doesn’t make any progress, if there has been no increase in people’s income, and purchasing capacity and if there has been any rise in any militant activities, then there is something to say. If the country lags in the last six years, then there might be some logic behind their movement.

Khaleda is looking for faults of her government, but failed to find one, Hasina said adding, "Then why people are being killed in the name of movement, what kind of movement is this!"

About the BNP-Jamaat alliance election boycott, the Prime Minister said it was the political decision of BNP not to participate in the 2014 election.

Criticizing the BNP-Jamaat camp for causing sufferings to Ijtema devotees, Hasina said millions of Ijtema-going Muslims faced hurdles due to the destructive activities, terrorism and bombing by BNP-Jamat activists.

Hasina directed NSI members to take drastic actions against terrorists and to be more active in containing anti-state elements with an iron hand.

She also instructed them to perform their responsibilities with patriotism, honesty and dutifulness maintaining discipline saying her government would stand beside them in the future to this end as in the past.

The Prime Minister underscored the need for a strong and smart intelligence organization as it is indispensable to ensure the sovereignty of a country and the overall security of its citizens and take effective measures against terrorism.

She said the NSI has been performing its responsibilities of collecting, analyzing and evaluating intelligence information from various strategically important places at home and abroad.

Besides, the responsibilities of formulating national security planning and taking measures of strategic security activities across the boundary of the country are also bestowed on the NSI, she said.

The Prime Minister regretted that the NSI had lost trust of people when illegal power grabbers used the force as a weapon for perpetuating their illegal power after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975.

The NSI regained its lost pride and glory as the Awami League forming the government after long 21 years in 1996 undertook steps, including development of its infrastructure and procurement of equipment and logistics to transform it in to a nationally important organization, she said.

Steps have also been taken to allocate lands for eight divisional headquarters office as well as in its offices of 64 districts and metropolitan areas of the country, Hasina said.

Praising NSI’s role in containing terrorism and militancy, Hasina said, members of the force along with other law enforcers played effective role to this end.

NSI Director General Major General Mohammad Shamsul Huq delivered the welcome address while Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and Prime Minister' Security Affairs Adviser Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique were present at the function.

Earlier, a one-minute silence was observed in memory of MA Sattar who died in a tragic road accident during his duty in the capital in the morning.